Apparatus for and a method of managing animals

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for managing animals, having a stall, such as a milking stall with an automatic milking machine. The stall comprises an entrance and an exit and is provided for housing one single animal. One or more enticing devices are provided to entice the animal to approach or to leave the stall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In a first aspect the present invention relates to an apparatus formanaging an animal, comprising a stall having an entrance and an exitand provided for housing one single animal. Furthermore, the presentinvention in the first aspect relates to a method of automaticallymanaging an animal in a stall.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus forenticing an animal to move towards a predetermined destination,comprising an animal enticing means.

In a third aspect the present invention relates to an apparatus forenticing an animal of a herd to move in a desired direction.Furthermore, the present invention in the third aspect relates to amethod of enticing an animal to move in a desired direction.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Automatic milking of cows is disclosed in EP-A-91 892. The automaticmilking takes place in one or more combined feeding and milking stallsprovided in a barn in which the animals are allowed to walk about freelyand find their way individually to the stalls for feeding, drinking andmilking. The cows are automatically identified in each stall and fedwith the aid of a computer connected to the identification and feedingmeans used. By means of the computer, in which facts concerning eachcow, when she was last milked, etc are stored, automatic milking isinitiated. The stall also comprises retaining gates which areautomatically closed to retain the cow during milking and opened to letthe cow leave the stall.

Traditionally cows are milked twice a day. Because of high labour costsit was not interesting to increase the number of milkings per day aslong as milking was performed manually. It is however recognized thatmilking a cow three to four times a day has proved to be of lessdetriment to her, since the udder is not filled to its maximum betweeneach milking. Such a milking procedure corresponds more closely to thebehaviour of the calves and therefore results in healthier cows. As aside effect, however, it is possible to increase the total milkproduction from one cow by 15-25%. By means of automatic milkingmachines it is not only possible, but would also be economicallyinteresting to milk the cows more often than twice a day, since thelabour costs are not any longer critical. In this case it is rather thehigh investment cost which is a limiting factor. Therefore, in order toreach a high utilization of the capacity of such automatic milkingmachines and in order to obtain such a high milking frequency by areasonable number of automatic milking stations, it is necessary torapidly get the cow into the milking station where automatic milking cantake place. Moreover, once the cow has been milked she must as soon aspossible leave the milking station in order to give access to anothercow. Furthermore, when a cow enters the milking station it is alsoessential that she leaves the milking station as soon as possible, ifshe for the moment should not be milked. This is the case if a cowenters the milking station although she was just milked, if her udderand the teats are dirty to such an extent that she must be cleaned anddried before she can be milked, in order not to contaminate the milk.

Thus, in connection with automatic milking it is important that the cowimmediately leaves the milking station after finished milking.

In the past, different proposals have been raised to this end. One is todivide the cows into groups which necessitates partitions and gates and,hence, reduces the accessible area for each individual cow. Anotherproposal is to force the cows to a milking station by different signalsand electric fences, see e.g. EP-A-582 350, EP-A-566 201, EP-A-567 191or EP-A-189 954. DE-A-4 134 163 proposes to force the animals by meansof pressurized air. It has also been proposed to drive the animals to adesired area by means of movable gates of different types. However,animals are sensitive living beings and in most cases react verynegatively to forces of any kind.

DE-C-3 702 465 discloses a system for automatic milking and feeding ofcows, whereby the cows, when finding their way to a feeding stall, areforced to pass an identifying device. Thereafter the cows are led to amilking stall for automatic milking or alternatively to a feedingstation having no milking machine.

EP-A-617 887 discloses a construction for milking animals, comprising amilking box, one or more milking robots and a control room. From theexit of the milking box, the animal may enter an area in which asufficient quantity of fodder is available.

There is no means proposed to remind the animal in an active manner thatshe is to leave the milking box after milking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency inanimal management.

In one aspect of the present invention the object is to bring the animalto enter voluntarily and leave a stall without delay and thereby speedup the animal traffic through said stall.

In other words the object of the present invention is to provide anefficient apparatus, which entices the animal to move voluntarily to apredetermined destination without delay.

In still other words the object of the present invention is to make ananimal move in a desired direction so that the animal arrives at apredetermined destination, and more specifically to entice the animal tofind voluntarily its way to a milking station without delay.

Furthermore, the present invention resides in the insight that theanimals should not be forced by physical or other means, but be enticedand encouraged to behave in a certain way, and that such a way ofleading the animals is more efficient in the long run. It results inanimals being more satisfied with their situation and consequently theywill produce more milk. By implementing the present invention inconnection with a stall for treatment of the animal, e.g. treatment suchas milking, massageing, cleaning, insemination, administrating medicineetc., a procedure is obtained, which will be a positive experience forthe animal. This is very important, and since many animals, especiallycows, have a very good memory, they will always look forward to the nexttreatment opportunity, rather than being afraid thereof.

These objects are obtained by the apparatus for managing an animal,which is initially defined and characterized by an exit area accessibleto the animal from the exit of the stall, and by enticing means providedto entice the animal to move from the stall into the exit area.

By forming the enticing means such that it is activatable from a reststate, the behaviour of the animal may be controlled in a very carefulmanner. To this end control means may be provided, by which differententicing devices may be activated. With the aid of the control means foractivating the enticing devices, the enticing method can be varied andeven adapted to the preferences of different animals, i.e. one or moreof the enticing devices, which by experience have proved to enticeefficiently an individual animal to leave the stall, may be activated.

By the use of one or more of various enticing devices, such as a watersupply device, a feeding device, a cleaning device, air spraying device,a dressing device, a smell spreading device, and a sound generatingdevice, the likelihood that the animal voluntarily leaves the milkingstall without delay is considerably increased.

The result of the examination to be performed by the examination deviceprovided in the stall may be processed by the control means to eitheractivate treatment of the animal, e.g. a milking machine, or to activateany of the enticing devices. Furthermore, this result may be processedto open or close the gates.

By defining the exit area by a stall, the animal can be left alone todrink water, to be fed, to be cleaned etc, and other animals can beprevented from entering the exit area from outside the milking station.

The objects defined are also obtained by a method of automaticallymanaging an animal in a stall, comprising the following steps:

identifying the individual animal entering the stall;

examining the condition of the identified animal;

treating the identified animal in response to the result from thecondition examination, and

enticing the animal away from the stall.

Furthermore, these objects are obtained by an apparatus according to thesecond aspect and initially defined, which is characterized in that saidanimal enticing means comprises a plurality of enticing devices arrangedat different locations and adapted to be activated independently of oneanother, a sensing means for sensing the presence of said animalcomprising a plurality of sensing devices in an area where the animalresides, wherein at least one sensing device of said plurality ofsensing devices sensing the presence of the animal is adapted toactivate at least one of said plurality of enticing devices, forenticing the animal to move towards said enticing device, therebyleading the animal along a route leading to said destination. Hereby,the animal is efficiently enticed to move towards a desired destination.

Preferably, a further sensing device, located on said route closer tosaid predetermined destination than said one sensing device, is adaptedto activate a further enticing device located on said route closer tosaid predetermined destination than said one enticing device. Hereby isachieved that the animal is enticed step by step towards saiddestination.

According to a first embodiment, said enticing device is a smellgenerating device. Hereby the animal is enticed by stimulating itsolfatory sense.

According to a second embodiment, said enticing device is a watersupply, such as a water bowl. Hereby, the animal is enticed by using itsneed for liquid.

According to a third embodiment, said enticing device is a feedsupplying device, such as a feed trough. Hereby the animal is enticed byusing its need for food or by stimulating its sense of taste.

According to a fourth embodiment, said enticing device is a lightemitting device, such as a spotlight. Hereby, the animal is enticed byusing its inherent curiosity in connection with its other needs andsenses, since, when feed is lit up by means of a spotlight, the animalis firstly curious to see what is lit up, secondly, its need for water,feed or the like will be satisfied.

According to a fifth embodiment, said enticing device is a soundgenerating device, such as a loudspeaker. Hereby, the animal is enticedby stimulating its auditory sense with an agreeable sound, such as feedfalling into a feed trough, which is immediately recognizable by theanimal.

Preferably, the enticing unit is adapted to be activated substantiallyin front of the animal, seen in the direction of movement of the animal.Hereby is achieved that the animal is enticed to move towards saiddestination.

Preferably, said predetermined destination is a milking station.Alternatively, said apparatus further comprises a milking station,wherein said predetermined destination is located outside said milkingstation. Hereby, the animal is brought to enter voluntarily and moveaway from the milking station without delay and thereby to obtain a highdegree of milked animals per unit of time. Accordingly, the efficiencyin milking, in particular automatic milking, will be improved.

Suitably, said predetermined destination is a treatment stall.Alternatively, said apparatus further comprises a treatment stall,wherein said predetermined destination is located outside said treatmentstall. Hereby, the animal is brought to enter voluntarily and leave thetreatment stall without delay and thereby a high degree of treatedanimals per unit of time is obtained. Accordingly, the efficiency intreatment of animals is improved.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a pathway defined by sidemovement delimiting means, such as walls or bars. Hereby is achievedthat the animal is enticed to move to said predetermined destinationmore efficiently, since once the animal has entered the pathway otherperceptions will no longer disturb the animal.

Suitably, said sensing means comprises an identification means to beassociated with said animal and a reading means responsive to a signalfrom said identification means. Hereby is achieved that each animal maybe identified, so that it can be determined whether an identified animalshould be enticed to move towards said destination or not.

Furthermore, these objects are obtained by the apparatus according tothe third aspect and initially defined, which is characterized in thatit comprises a plurality of supply units for dispensing edible products,such as feed or water, to the animal, arranged at different locationsalong said direction, each supply unit being provided with a sensingmeans for sensing the presence of said animal, and control means forcontrolling the supply units in response to said sensing means sensingthe presence of the animal to dispense the edible products with varyingdispensing intensity to the animal in various supply units, such thatthe animal is enticed to seek for edible products in said desireddirection.

Furthermore, these objects are obtained by the method according to thethird aspect and initially described, which is characterized bydispensing edible products, such as feed or water, to the animal insupply units at different locations along said directions; sensing thepresence of the animal at said supply units; and controlling said supplyunits in response to sensed presence of the animal, such that the edibleproducts are dispensed with varying intensity to the animal in varioussupply units to entice the animal to seek for edible products in saiddesired direction.

Preferably, said direction leads to a predetermined destination, saidsupply units being arranged at different distances from saiddestination, said control means being adapted to control the dispensingintensity such that edible products are dispensed in a relatively lowdispensing intensity to the animal by supply units located relativelyremote from said destination, in order to entice the animal to seek foredible products dispensed by supply units closer to said destination.Hereby, the animal is enticed to move towards said destination.

Advantageously, said control means is adapted to control the dispensingintensity such that edible products are dispensed to the animal with arelatively high intensity by supply units located relatively close tosaid destination. Hereby, the animal is enticed even more to movetowards said destination.

Suitably, said control means is adapted to control the supply units suchthat the dispensing intensity increases with decreasing distance betweena supply unit and said destination.

Preferably, said destination is a milking station. Hereby, it ispossible to entice the animal to move to an automatic milking machinewhen she needs to be milked.

Alternatively, said direction leads away from a restricted area, saidsupply units being arranged at different distances from said restrictedarea, said control means being adapted to control the dispensingintensity such that edible products are not dispensed at all or aredispensed with relatively low intensity by supply units locatedrelatively close to the restricted area in order to entice the animal toseek for edible products dispensed by supply units farther away fromsaid restricted area.

Preferably, said control means is adapted to control the dispensingintensity such that edible products are dispensed to the animal with arelatively high intensity by supply units located relatively remote fromsaid restricted area. Hereby, the animal is enticed even more to moveaway from said restricted area.

Moreover, said control means is adapted to control the supply units suchthat the dispensing intensity increases with increasing distance betweena supply means and said restricted area.

Advantageously, said restricted area is a milking station. Hereby, it ispossible to entice the animal to move away from an automatic milkingmachine when it does not need to be milked.

Advantageously, each supply unit is adapted to dispense rations of theedible products of different sizes, such that a small ration correspondsto a low dispensing intensity, whereas a large ration corresponds to ahigh dispensing intensity.

Alternatively, each supply unit is adapted to dispense the edibleproducts with different speeds, such that a small dispensing speedcorresponds to a low dispensing intensity, and a high dispensing speedcorresponds to a high dispensing intensity.

Preferably, each supply unit comprises at least one feed supply unit,and said edible product comprises feed. Hereby, feed in the form ofconcentrate, roughage, silage or the like may be dispensed to theanimal.

Suitably, each supply unit comprises at least one water supply unit, andsaid edible product comprises water. Hereby, fresh drinking water may besupplied to the animal.

Preferably, said sensing means comprises a reading means responsive toan identification means to be associated with each animal for theidentification thereof. Hereby, it is possible to identify individualsof a flock or herd or animals.

The invention is however not limited to animals to be milked. On thecontrary, the invention also resides in the insight that living beingsmay be enticed by impressions of their senses, to take a route desiredby the cattleman or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a milking station, and

FIG. 2 shows a schematical view from above of the milking station ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating the different components ofthe milking station of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show schematically a milking station equipped withenticing means.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show schematically a treatment stall equipped withenticing means.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show schematically two possibilities of arranging supplyunits in relation to the milking station.

FIG. 7 shows a further possibility of arranging supply units in relationto the milking station.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the FIGS. 1 and 2, a milking station M comprises a milkingstall 1 having an entrance gate 2 and an exit gate 3. In the milkingstall 1, there is provided a feeding device 4 for feeding the animalduring milking, e.g. with concentrate or silage. At the entrance of themilking stall 1 an identification device 5 is provided, which identifiesan animal with the aid of a transponder 6 carried by the animal enteringthe stall 1. The milking stall 1 is provided with an automatic milkingmachine 7 which may include a sensor (not shown) for determining theposition of the teats and which comprises a robot arm 8 supporting themilking cluster including the teat cups to be applied to the teats ofthe animal. In connection with the automatic milking machine 7 there isalso provided a control device 9 and an examination device 10. Thefunction of the control device 9 and the examination device 10 will beexplained further below.

Outside the exit gate 3 there is provided a treatment stall 11 which thecow must pass after leaving the milking stall 1. The exit gate 3 of themilking stall constitutes the inlet gate of the treatment stall 11.Moreover, the treatment stall 11 comprises an exit gate 12 of the typewhich suitably but not necessarily can be opened by the animal itself orit may be of a type which is controlled by the control means 9 inresponse to data regarding the animal identified as being present in thetreatment stall.

In the treatment stall 11 there is provided enticing means comprisingvarious enticing devices for enticing the animal to move from themilking stall 1 into the treatment stall 11, when milking is finished orwhen the animal should leave the milking stall 1 for some other reason.There are a great number of possibilities to design the enticingdevices. The following list comprises many such possiblities but it is,however, not complete.

First of all, in the treatment stall 11 there is provided a supply means13, which can offer the animal feed in the form of e.g. concentrate orsilage from a feed supply device 13a as well as fresh drinking waterfrom a water supply device 14. The supply device 13 may be prepared inadvance, such that the animal knows that when it enters the treatmentstall 11 there is always something to eat or drink. This is believed tohave an enticing effect on the animal, in particular if feed is nolonger offered in the feeding device 4 in the milking stall 1. Anotherpossibility is to entice the animal to move from the milking stall 1 bythe sound which is generated by the supply of e.g. concentrate or silagefrom a food dispenser of the feed supply device 13a, or of fresh waterfrom the water supply device 14.

The enticing means also comprises a cleaning device 15, 16 in thetreatment stall 11. Such a device 15 may comprise means for sprayingwarm water on to the udder and the teats of the animal. This could benecessary for reasons of cleanness, but is also something which theanimal finds agreeable. Another possibility is to provide a device 16for mechanical cleaning of the teats and the udder. The latter isadvantageous because the teats and the udder do not need to be driedafterwards, but the animal can return to the milking station Mimmediately. Moreover, the enticing means may comprise a device 17 forspraying warm air on the animal, in particular on the udder and itsteats. This will dry the animal, e.g. after cleaning, and give it apositive feeling. Other cleaning devices are also possible, e.g. acombination device 18 comprising rotating brushes 19 for mechanicallycleaning and massageing of the teats, spray nozzle devices 20 fordelivery of a cleaning agent, and one or more nozzle devices 21 fordelivery of drying air to the teats. If the animal has been milked inthe milking stall 1, the teats may be sprayed with iodine solution, suchas Alfa-Blue®, in order to prevent bacteria entering the opening of theteats of the animal.

Furthermore, a dressing device 22 is provided in the treatment stall 11.This comprises one or more motor-driven, rotating brushes 23 fordressing and massaging the body of the animal.

The mere existence of a cleaning or dressing device is believed to havean enticing effect on the animal. If a stronger enticing effect isneeded, the activation of these devices, e.g. starting the motor of therotating brushes, will entice the animal to move further to thetreatment stall 11.

The enticing means also comprises a smell generating device 24 providedin the treatment stall 11, which is adapted to spread smellingsubstances attractive to the animal, e.g. in the case that the animal isa cow it may be the smell of a bull.

Since many animals are attracted by music, it is also possible toprovide a sound generating device, e.g. a loudspeaker 25, in thetreatment stall 11 to entice the animal to move from the milking stall 1to the treatment stall 11.

It is to be understood that these enticing devices may be usedseparately or in a combination with anyone or several of the others. Bymeans of the control device 9, which may be a computer, the desiredenticing device can easily be activated. This can be done in accordancewith a predetermined scheme or rule. Because the identification device 5has provided a signal to the computer 9, which animal is present in themilking stall 1, it is also possible to activate the enticing devicescorresponding to the preferences of this particular animal.

A self-adapting control system would also be possible, i.e. the computer9 can every time an animal enters the stall 1 register how it reacts ondifferent enticing devices, e.g. by measuring the time for the animal toleave the milking stall 1. The result of such measurements could be usedin automatically determining the preferences of each individual cow.Such measurements could also be extended to consider the reaction of thecow on varied use of a single enticing device, e.g. different pieces ofmusic from the loudspeaker 25.

It is believed that the enticing devices proposed will attract theanimals to leave the milking stall 1 when desired. Moreover, theanimals, due to their memoring capacity, will all the time be aware ofthe existence of the enticing devices. However, it is advantageous ifthe enticing device is provided in such a manner, that its activation,e.g. by means of the computer 9, will provide a physical signal, such asin the form of a sound, a smell etc., to the animal, making it aware ofthe existence of the enticing device. Consequently, the animals will beencouraged to enter the milking stall 1 voluntarily.

FIG. 3 discloses schematically a diagram illustrating how the differentcomponents of the milking station are connected to each other. When ananimal enters the milking stall 1, a signal from the transponder 6 isreceived by a receiver 26 sending it to the identification device 5. Theidentification of a specific animal is transmitted to the computer 9.When the animal has entered and is present in the milking stall 1, theentrance gate 2 and the exit gate 3 are automatically closed.Thereafter, the examination device 10 examines the condition of theudder and the teats with regard to how clean they are and if milking isneeded. These facts together with the facts about the specific animal,which are already stored in the computer, are processed in the computer9 to determine if the animal should be milked or if she is to leave themilking stall 1. If she should be milked, the automatic milking machine7 is activated by the computer 9. After milking or when determined notto milk the animal, it should leave the milking stall 1 as soon aspossible. To this end the computer 9 sends out signals to stop thefeeding by the feeding device 4, to open automatically the exit gate 3,and to activate one or a combination of the enticing devices 13-25.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show schematically a milking station M equipped withenticing means 30a-30g in the form of loudspeakers, according to a firstembodiment of the invention. The milking station M shown in FIG. 4B isfurthermore comprised with a corridor or pathway 31, which the animalmust enter in order to reach the milking stall 1.

When an animal residing in the vicinity of the milking station M andidentified by a sensing device, e.g. 32a, is considered to need to bemilked, it should as quickly as possible move towards a predetermineddestination, i.e. the milking station M, without causing the animal painor discomfort. For this purpose, an enticing sound is generated by aloudspeaker 30a. When the animal approaches the loudspeaker 30a, afterthe animal has been identified by a sensing device 32a in the vicinityof the loudspeaker 30a, an enticing sound is instead generated byloudspeaker 30b. The procedure is repeated regarding the sensing means32b-d and the loudspeakers 30c, 30d and 30e until the animal has takenits place in the milking stall 1 of the milking station M. As a reward,the animal is given feed in the feeding device 4.

The enticing sound may be any sound that entices the animal to movetowards the milking station M, e.g. the sound of feed falling down intoa feed trough or the sound of water splashing into a bowl.

When the animal has been milked, it is important that the animalimmediately leaves the milking stall 1, so that another animal can bemilked. As described above, a loudspeaker 25 may be arranged inconnection with the treatment stall 11 to entice the animal to leave themilking station M. It is also important that the animal leaves thetreatment stall 11 within a reasonable period of time. For this purpose,loudspeakers 30f and 30g are arranged at a suitable distance from thetreatment stall in order to entice the animal to leave the treatmentstall. Thereby, the loudspeaker 30f generates an enticing soundresponsive to a signal from the sensing means 32f or to a signal from asensor that senses when the exit gate 12 is open. When the animalapproaches the loudspeaker 30f and the sensor 32g senses the cow'stransponder, an enticing sound is generated in loudspeaker 30g.

Preferably, the animal receives a reward in the form of feed or waterwhen it is no longer blocking the exit gate 12 of the treatment stall11. Accordingly, in this case, the predetermined destination issomewhere outside the milking station M.

Although the number of loudspeakers has been shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B tobe five to entice the animal to move towards the milking station M, itis obvious that a lower number of loudspeakers such as two, three orfour would be sufficient to perform the invention. The number could aswell be more than five, depending on the distance the animal is to beenticed to cover.

In the same way, the number of loudspeakers to entice the animal toleave the treatment stall may be less than two, i.e. one, or more thantwo.

Of course, loudspeakers 30f and 30g may be arranged directly outside themilking station M to entice the animal to move away from the milkingstation M without passing the treatment stall, if no treatment afterfinished milking is considered to be needed. This is also the case inmilking stations not being provided with a treatment stall. Furthermore,the enticing of the animal may start anywhere along the route to thedestination, i.e. it is not necessary to start the route at the enticingunit 30a.

The use of loudspeakers for encouraging an animal to leave a milkingparlour by producing unpleasant sounds, e.g. shrill sounds or to producea sound pleasant to the animal for promoting milk production is knownfrom EP-B-0 189 954.

The use of one single fixed loudspeaker or a loudspeaker arranged in acollar around the neck of the cow for luring or frightening her is knownfrom EP-B-0 332 231.

The sensing devices 32a-c are preferably reading devices that canidentify an animal based on a signal generated by the transponder,whereas the sensors 32d-g are preferably inexpensive sensor devices,like infrared sensors, weight sensors, light relays or the like, ratherthan expensive reading devices, even though it would certainly bepossible to use the latter. The use of inexpensive sensor devices isparticularly suitable in the pathway 31, where the animal has alreadybeen identified before entering the pathway.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the enticing means3Oa-30g and 25 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B comprises light sources,preferably illuminating lamps or spotlights. Thereby, the spotlightseither illuminate a part of the pathway 31 or the milking stall 1 orfeed placed in feed troughs or the like. It may be useful to darksurrounding parts of the area to be illuminated by the spotlights orlamps.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, the enticing units30a-30g comprise feed supply devices, such as feed troughs.

According to a fourth embodiment of the invention, the enticing units30a-30g comprise water supply devices, such as water bowls for supplyingfresh drinking water.

According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, the enticing units30a-30g comprise smell generating devices for spreading smellingsubstances attractive to the animal.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and B, enticing means 30a-30g may be used forenticing the animal to take a predetermined route, which leads to amilking station M without a treatment stall. The destination may also bea treatment stall, which is not connected to a milking stall at all, butserves only to treat the animals. Another destination may be a calvingstall, a paring stall or the like.

It is to be understood that each of said enticing units according to thedifferent embodiments may be used in combination with anyone or severalof the others.

Alternatively, the stall 1 may comprise pretreatment equipment, such asmassageing means, teat cleaning means etc., and the additional stall 11may comprise a milking machine, e.g. a robot, instead of the treatmentequipment disclosed. Hereby, the enticing means may be provided toentice the animal to enter the stall 1, to continue to the additionalstall 11 and to leave the additional stall 11.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate schematically possibilities of arrangingsupply units 40a-40g in relation to a milking station M. The supplyunits 40a-40g are, according to a first embodiment, of the same kind asthe supply means 13 (see FIG. 1) provided with a feed supply device 13aand a water supply device 14 and a sensing means preferably comprising areceiver 26 as described above.

Preferably, the supply units 40a-40g are placed with a particulardistance from each other. It should not be too short since the animalsmay get confused and the enticing effect may get lost. It should not betoo long either, since the animals may be unwilling to move further,however strong the enticing effect may be, because instinctively animalsstay to their flock.

Still, the distance between different supply units 40a-40g need not beconstant. Moreover, the arrangements shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B are onlyexamples of suitable configurations of the supply units 40a-40g inrelation to the milking station M. It should therefore be noted that thenumber of supply units 40a-40g may vary from only one to many, dependingon how many animals that should be served by the milking station M.Another factor is the size of the area where the milking station M isplaced; the larger the area and the larger the distance from a remotesupply unit, the larger the need for several supply units. The supplyunits may also be placed to take any suitable form. Moreover, the numberof milking stations M may be more than one.

According to the invention, edible products, such as feed or water isused to entice the animal firstly to find its way to the milking stationM in order to move to said milking station and secondly, to move awayfrom the milking station after finished milking. In the first case, themilking station M is regarded a destination for the animals towardswhich they move, whereas in the second case, it is regarded a restrictedarea for the animals to reside.

According to the invention, feed or water is dispensed to animals to goto said milking station M with a relatively low dispensing intensity,i.e. in relatively small amounts or even not at all in the supply units40a-40d that are placed relatively remote from the milking station M.This will entice the animal to look for feed or water in the supplyunits 40e-40g situated closer to the milking station M. In these supplyunits feed will be dispensed with a relatively high dispensingintensity. After a while, the procedure will be repeated; there will belittle or no feed or water in the supply units 40e and 40f, whereasthere will be feed or water in the supply units 40g and, of course, inthe feeding device 4 located in the milking station M.

If an animal resides too closely to the milking station M when it is notallowed to, e.g. after milking, feed or water is dispensed with arelatively low dispensing intensity, i.e. in relatively small amounts ornot at all in supply units 40d-40g relatively close to the milkingstation M. This will entice the animal to seek for feed or water insupply units 40a-40c farther away from the milking station M, where feedwill be dispensed with a relatively high dispensing intensity.

It should be noted that feed or water is not dispensed by the supplyunits until the animal has been identified and the control means 9 hasproduced a signal to allow the animal to be fed.

If several supply units 40a-40g are provided, the amount of feedsupplied therein may vary increasingly or decreasingly as a function ofthe distance from an individual supply unit to the milking station M.The variation may be linear or exponential.

It should be noted that the above mentioned low and high dispensingintensity, respectively, may be achieved by controlling the supply unitsto dispense the edible products with a low or a high speed,respectively, instead of or in combination with small or large rations.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, where thesupply units 40a-40g comprise a number of feed troughs placed besideeach other. The feed troughs may be filled with water, concentrated isfood or roughage, i.e. hay or silage.

Each feed trough is provided with an entrance gate either for the wholeanimal or for just the head of the animal. The gate is opened by meansof a control means responsive to a signal from a transponder, whichidentifies the animal. Preferably, but not necessarily, the feedingtroughs are arranged at a common wall 41. Accordingly, an animal, whichis to be milked in a milking stall 1, is not allowed entry to feedtroughs far away from the milking station M, but to feed troughs closeto the milking station M, in a similar manner as described above inconnection with FIGS. 4A and 4B.

The feed troughs may be of the kind disclosed in SE-A-9400741-6, whichfurthermore comprises weighing means for weighing either the amount offeed given to each animal or the feed eaten by each animal.

It should be noted that the said destination and the said restrictedarea, respectively, do not necessarily need to be a milking station.Instead, it may also be a calving stall, a treatment stall, a roughagetable, a paring stall or any other place towards which the animal is tomove or leave.

Furthermore, the invention may also be used for enticing animals to moveto or return from pasture.

Additionally, the invention may be used for grouping animals ofdifferent categories together, e.g. cows being in different stages oflactation.

Wherever the expression "animal" has been used above in connection withthe milking station disclosed above, it is to be understood that anyanimal, which can be milked, is meant, such as cows, sheep, goats,buffaloes and horses.

In other cases any kind of animal is meant.

As mentioned above, the invention may also be used in other applicationsthan milking stations. Accordingly, the invention may also be used foranimals in general, which are to be monitored.

It should also be noted that sensing means in the form of a transponder6 to be sensed by a receiver 26 is not necessary in cases where only oneof few animals are to be monitored. This may be the case where animalshave been separated from the herd because of illness or pregnancy. Inthis case, sensing means in the form of sensing devices that senses thepresence of the animal, such as infrared sensors or light relays, may beused instead.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for managing an animal, comprising:a stallhaving an entrance and an exit and provided for housing one singleanimal; an exit area accessible to the animal from the exit of thestall; enticing means provided to entice the animal to move from thestall into the exit area,wherein the enticing means is activatable froma rest state in which it does not entice the animal to an activatedstate in which it entices the animal, the enticing means including aplurality of enticing devices; and control means for activating theenticing means, wherein the control means is provided for selectivelyactivating any one or a combination of the enticing devices.
 2. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein an identifying means is providedfor identifying the animal entering the stall, and in that the controlmeans is arranged to activate selectively any one of or a combination ofthe enticing devices in accordance with the preferences of the animalidentified by the identifying means.
 3. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein the enticing devices comprise a device provided in the exitarea for supplying water to the animal.
 4. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the enticing devices comprise a feeding device providedin the exit area.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein thefeeding device comprises a manger and a dispenser for dispensing feedinto a manger of the feeding device in such a way that a sound which isrecognizable by the animal is generated.
 6. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the enticing devices comprise a cleaning deviceprovided in the exit area.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, whereinthe animal has an udder and teats, and the cleaning device comprisesmeans for spraying warm water on the udder and the teats of the animal.8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the animal has an udderand teats, and the cleaning device comprises means for mechanicallycleaning the udder and teats of the animal.
 9. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the enticing devices comprise a device provided in theexit area for spraying warm air on the udder and teats of the animal.10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enticing devicescomprise a dressing device provided in the exit area.
 11. An apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the dressing device comprises a rotatingbrush.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enticingdevices comprise a device provided in the exit area for spreadingsmelling substances.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theenticing devices comprise a sound generating device provided in the exitarea which generates a sound which is agreeable to the animal.
 14. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the animal has an udder andteats, the apparatus further including an examination device provided inthe stall for determining the animal's need for milking and thecleanliness of the animal's udder and the teats.
 15. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the entrance and the exit of the stall areprovided with respective gates, which are arranged to open and close theexit and the entrance by means of the control means.
 16. An apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein the exit gate of the stall constitutes aninlet gate to the exit area.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the exit area is defined by an additional stall.
 18. Anapparatus according to claim 17, wherein the additional stall isprovided with an exit gate which is openable by the animal.
 19. Anapparatus according to claim 1, including milking means for automaticmilking of an animal present in the stall.
 20. A method of automaticallymanaging an animal in a stall, comprising the followingsteps:electronically identifying the individual animal entering thestall; examining the condition of the identified animal; treating theidentified animal in response to the result from the conditionexamination, and activating an entincing means for enticing the animalaway from the stall.
 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein theenticing step comprises physically making the animal aware of theexistence of the enticing means.
 22. A method according to claim 20,wherein the animal is enticed away from the stall by a sound generatedwhen dispensing food into a manger outside the milking area.
 23. Amethod according to claim 20, wherein the animal is enticed away fromthe stall by a sound generated when pouring water.
 24. A methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the animal is enticed away from the stallby recognizing the possibility of being cleaned.
 25. A method accordingto claim 20, wherein the animal is enticed away from the stall byrecognizing the possibility of being dressed by means of a rotatingbrush.
 26. A method according to claim 20, wherein the animal is enticedaway from the stall by an agreeable musical sound.
 27. A methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the animal is enticed away from the stallby smelling substances.
 28. A method according to claim 20, wherein thestall defines a milking area and that milking means is provided forautomatic milking of the animal present in the stall.
 29. An apparatusfor enticing an animal towards a predetermined destination, comprisingan animal enticing means, said animal enticing means including:aplurality of enticing units arranged at different locations andactivatable independently of one another, a sensing means for sensingthe presence of the animal comprising a plurality of sensing devices inan area where the animal resides, wherein at least one sensing device ofsaid plurality of sensing devices upon sensing the presence of theanimal activates at least one of said plurality of said enticing unitsfor enticing the animal to move towards said one of said enticing units,thereby leading the animal along a route to said destination.
 30. Anapparatus according to claim 29, wherein a second one of said pluralityof sensing devices, located on said route closer to said predetermineddestination then said one sensing device, activates a second one of saidenticing units located on said route closer to said predetermineddestination than said one enticing unit.
 31. An apparatus according toclaim 29, wherein said enticing unit is a smell generating device. 32.An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said enticing unit is awater supply device.
 33. An apparatus according to claim 29, whereinsaid enticing unit is a feed supply device.
 34. An apparatus accordingto claim 29, wherein said enticing unit is a light emitting device. 35.An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said enticing unit is asound generating device.
 36. An apparatus according to claim 29, whereinthe enticing unit is positioned for activation substantially in front ofthe animal, seen in the direction of movement of the animal.
 37. Anapparatus according to claim 29, wherein said predetermined destinationis a milking station.
 38. An apparatus according to claim 29, furthercomprising a milking station, said predetermined destination beingoutside said milking station.
 39. An apparatus according to claim 29,wherein said predetermined destination is a treatment stall.
 40. Anapparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a treatment stall,said predetermined destination being outside said treatment stall. 41.An apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a pathway definedby side movement delimiting means.
 42. An apparatus according to claim29, wherein said sensing means comprises an identification means to beassociated with the animal and a reading means responsive to a signalfrom said identification means.
 43. An apparatus for enticing an animalof a herd to move in a desired direction comprising a plurality ofsupply units for dispensing edible products to the animal, said supplyunits being arranged at different locations along said direction, eachsupply unit being provided with a sensing means for sensing the presenceof said animal, and control means for controlling the supply units inresponse to said sensing means sensing the presence of the animal todispense the edible products with varying dispensing intensity to theanimal in various supply units, such that the animal is enticed to seekfor edible products in said desired direction.
 44. An apparatusaccording to claim 43, wherein said direction leads to a predetermineddestination, said supply units being arranged at difference distancesfrom said destination, said control means controlling the dispensingintensity such that the edible products are dispensed in a relativelylow dispensing intensity to the animal by a first group of supply unitslocated relatively remote from the destination, in order to entice theanimal to seek for edible products dispensed by a second group of supplyunits closer to said destination.
 45. An apparatus according to claim44, wherein said control means is adapted to control the dispensingintensity such that edible products are dispensed to the animal with arelatively high intensity by the second group of supply units locatedrelatively close to said destination.
 46. An apparatus according toclaim 44, wherein said control means controls the supply units such thatthe relative dispensing intensity of the supply units increases withdecreasing distance between successive ones of said plurality of supplyunits along said direction and said destination.
 47. An apparatusaccording to claim 44, wherein said destination is a milking station.48. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said direction leadsaway from a restricted area, said supply units being arranged atdifferent differences from said restricted area including a first groupof supply units positioned relatively close to the restricted area and asecond group of supply units positioned relatively remotely from saidrestricted area, said control means controlling the dispensing intensitysuch that edible products are not dispensed at all or are dispensed withrelatively low intensity by said first group of supply units locatedrelatively close to the restricted area in order to entice the animal toseek for edible products dispensed by said second group of supply unitsfarther away from said restricted area.
 49. An apparatus according toclaim 48, wherein said control means controls the dispensing intensitysuch that edible products are dispensed to the animal with a relativelyhigh intensity by the second group of supply units located relativelyremote from said restricted area.
 50. An apparatus according to claim48, wherein said control means controls the supply units such that therelative dispensing intensity of the supply units increases withincreasing distance between successive ones of said plurality of supplymeans unit and said restricted area.
 51. An apparatus according to claim48, wherein said restricted area is a milking station.
 52. An apparatusaccording to claim 43, wherein each supply unit dispenses rations of theedible products of different size, such that a small ration correspondsto a low dispensing intensity whereas a large ration corresponds to ahigh dispensing intensity.
 53. An apparatus according to claim 43,wherein each supply unit dispenses the edible products with differentspeeds, such that a small dispensing speed corresponds to a lowdispensing intensity, and a high dispensing speed corresponds to a highdispensing intensity.
 54. An apparatus according to claim 43, whereineach supply unit comprises at least one feed supply device, and saidedible product comprises feed.
 55. An apparatus according to claim 43,wherein each supply unit comprises at least one water supply device, andsaid edible product comprises water.
 56. An apparatus according to claim43, wherein said sensing means comprises a reading means responsive toan identification means for association with each animal for theidentification thereof.
 57. A method of enticing an animal to move in adesired direction, comprising the steps of:dispensing edible products,such as feed or water to the animal in supply units at differentlocations along said direction; sensing the presence of the animal atsaid supply units; and controlling said supply units in response tosensed presence of the animal, such that the edible products aredispensed with varying intensity to the animal in various ones of saidsupply units to entice the animal to seek for edible products in saiddesired direction.